PBS' Breakfast Special

PBS' Breakfast Special

Rick Sebak, the man who brought us such excellent PBS programs as An Ice CreamShow, A Hot Dog Program and Sandwiches You Will Like, is about to come out with his next show. It is titled Breakfast Special and it debuts on Wednesday, July 14 at 8:00PM. Among the cities he visits are Philly, Columbia, Columbus, Portland, St. Augustine and of course, a couple of restaurants here in his home city of Pittsburgh. I know for sure he is a big fan of the Sterns, so some of these places will be familiar to Roadfooders. Can't wait to see it!

My guess is that Jo Jo's will be one of the Pittsburgh breakfast spots featured on the show, and if it isn't, I'll go into shock. I fell in love with the place when I was there last week; probably the best hashbrowns that I've ever had, along with a classic roadfood atmosphere. DeLuca's is very good, but Jo Jo's is just great.

Carolina Bob My guess is that Jo Jo's will be one of the Pittsburgh breakfast spots featured on the show, and if it isn't, I'll go into shock.

Even though I share your feelings about Jo-Jo's (it is my favorite in Pittsburgh), it is not included in the show. The one place that is included, I still haven't visited yet.

Somebody grab the difibrillator, major shock is setting in!! Seriously, I don't understand this one. Based on the two places' reputations and my own experiences, I thought that Jo Jo's and DeLuca's had a lock on the Pittsburgh breakfast thing. Of course, if there's yet another great breakfast spot in town, I certainly want to know about it.

I thought the show was really well done, but I am disappointed that the places they shot film at in Hawaii, Columbia, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh didn't make the final cut. Unfortunately, they only have a hour. Of the places shown, LaHerencia Cafe in St. Augustine really made me wish I was eating there this morning. Davydd-Thanks for putting up the list!

Buffetbuster, I know that in the past the DVD versions of his shows have included "extras," which includes footage shot that didn't make the final edit. My guess is that WQED will be offering this show on DVD.

Unfortunately, I had to work last night and missed the initial broadcast. In Minneapolis, the PBS station re-runs primetime shows overnight, so I tried to get up and watch it at 1 a.m., but I couldn't stay awake.

That said, they've been re-running a lot of the other shows -- "Great Old Amusement Parks" and "Ice Cream Show" within the past couple of weeks -- so I'm hoping it will be on again soon.

buffetbusterEven though I share your feelings about Jo-Jo's (it is my favorite in Pittsburgh), it is not included in the show. The one place that is included, I still haven't visited yet.

buffetbuster, can you tell me the place(s) they shot film in Pittsburgh? I haven't yet watched the recording, so I don't know if they mention what Pitt place(s) got cut, and for some reason, WQED's website is blocked at work.

An acquaintance of mine, Nick Dekker, was on the show taking Rick Sebak around to a couple of places in Columbus, OH. One of his picks - Skillet - I cannot get enough of. Some truly amazing stuff comes out of that kitchen.

Haven't been to the other (Best Breakfasts & Sandwiches), but will have to rectify that soon!

Though I'm a little late (extremely late) in posting, I took my niece to the Hot Metal Diner the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Crowded, but the tables turn over fairly quickly. Had two sunny eggs with home-fries and Mancini Italian bread toast and she had the jumbo fish sandwich.

Kitschy decor but not over-the-top, and service was spot on. Had no room for dessert, but the pies looked excellent. Look forward to going back.

Maybe it was the effects of a pie induced haze, but I think I recently saw a commercial or ad for a Breakfast Special II. It was called Revenge of the Omelets. Like Holly previously mentioned, some ofthe best places Rick Sebak visited ended up on the cutting room floor, so they still have lots of good material to use. If I find a date for it being shown, I will report back.

Looks like we finally have a date. Part 2 of the Breakfast Special will be broadcast on Christmas night. I will be glad to see all the places that ended up on the cutting room floor of the original show, including one or two here in Pittsburgh.